Electronic personal health record system

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for storing health records in a secured manner are disclosed. Access to a patient's online health record is controlled by the patient (or the patient's caregiver). Specifically, a patient may choose to either grant or deny access rights to an individual such as a healthcare provider. Access rights may include read, write, and forwarding privileges.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 387,041, Attorney Docket No. MDMPP001, entitled “HEALTHCARE PROVIDER-PATIENT ONLINE CONSULTATION SYSTEM,” listing Fotsch et al. as inventors, filed on Mar. 10, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. [0002] This application is also a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 10 / 641,982, Attorney Docket No. MDMPP001X1, entitled “HEALTHCARE PROVIDER-PATIENT ONLINE CONSULTATION AND COMPLIANCE PROGRAM,” listing Fotsch as inventors, filed on Aug. 15, 2003, which is incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. [0003] This application is also related to Attorney Docket No. MDMPP003, patent application Ser. No. ______, entitled “HEALTHCARE NOTIFICATION SYSTEM,” filed herewith, naming Fotsch et al as inventors, which is incorporated herein for all purposes.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0004] 1. Field of the Invention [0005] The present invention relates to an on...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] Methods and apparatus for storing health records in a secured manner are disclosed. This is accomplished, in part, through enabling the patient (or the patient's caregiver) to control access to the patient's online health record via the Internet. In this manner, patients' health records may be made available online in a secure manner.

Problems solved by technology

One area where this is particularly problematic is in patient medical records.

Unfortunately, this often requires medical records to be physically transferred among these physicians.

Moreover, in order to accomplish the record transfer, this generally requires processing time, as well as the time it takes for the physical medical file(s) to be transferred from one physician's office to another physician's office.

This transfer time and resulting delay is particularly problematic in the situation in which a medical emergency arises.

Simply capturing medical information electronically doesn't solve this problem.

In those (few) physician offices and other care arenas where patient medical information is captured and stored electronically, the information stored is unique to the care provided by that institution, and the system limits access to those physicians and other healthcare providers operating within that office or institution.

The lack of an electronic patient medical record leads to astounding results.

Moreover, research indicates that 30 cents of every dollar spent on health care does nothing to make sick people better.

Duplicate tests, unnecessary hospitalizations and other side effects contribute to skyrocketing healthcare costs.

Even if the majority of physician offices and other institutions had electronic medical records, the challenges associated with integrating electronically stored patient medical information to create a comprehensive, patient-centric health record are significant.

Moreover, physicians are being challenged to become more engaged in disease management.

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